Tate McRae Takes Us on an Entrancing Joyride in “Sports car”


Photo: Beth Saravo

Dirty pop songs are so back, and Tate McRae’s “Sports car” is living proof. Even as the third single from the artist’s upcoming album, SO CLOSE TO WHAT, “Sports car” stands out. It’s addictive from the jump and brings back the nostalgia of the 2000s while still sounding fresh and entirely modern. 

The lyrics are, for lack of a better word, sexy. Not only that, but they’re exceptionally clever and spill out from the pop star like a flirty conversation, “Hey, cute jeans / Take mine off me / Oh, golly gee / I can't take no more, I'm goin' weak in my knees / Where'd you put those keys?” The pre-chorus is also up-front and bold, simply listing all the places McRae wants to, as she says it, “uh-uh.” It’s suggestive without being explicit, playful, yet deliberate. A classic and effortless tease. 

The highlight, almost undoubtedly, is the whispered chorus. It stands out, even among the catchy verses of innuendos. It’s unexpected at first—almost jarring—but then it clicks into place. It’s seductive, secretive, and absolutely genius. While many pop songs explode in the chorus, “Sports car” does the opposite, focusing on the production and nature of the song, ultimately proving that sometimes, less is more.

Tate McRae is a siren, and we, her willing victims, are all entranced. SO CLOSE TO WHAT arrives on February 21. 

Listen to “Sports car” below: 


Related Articles

Katherine Li Creates an Intimate Diary of Self-Growth with Debut Album ‘I Love You, or Whatever’

Katherine Li Creates an Intimate Diary of Self-Growth with Debut Album ‘I Love You, or Whatever’

October 23, 2026 Katherine Li has already proven her resonant skill of capturing the familiar anxieties of wondering whether someone will love back, but now in her debut album I Love You, or Whatever, she unapologetically steps into the more nuanced sides of connection and personal growth.
Author: Alysa Benson
pop
K/DA Make the Six-Year Wait Worth It With FIRESTARTER

K/DA Make the Six-Year Wait Worth It With FIRESTARTER

October 23, 2026 With FIRESTARTER, the virtual pop supergroup makes its return with four tracks that hit like a jolt of electricity.
Author: Alessandra Rincon
pop
How Whitney Whitney Lost Her Voice And Found A New Sound On ‘1.3’ [Q+A]

How Whitney Whitney Lost Her Voice And Found A New Sound On ‘1.3’ [Q+A]

October 23, 2026 Loss is a part of life, but what do you do when it feels like you’ve lost yourself? How do you figure out where to go from there? If you’re Whitney Whitney, you keep going — and make an excellent new EP, 1.3.
Author: India McCarty
pop
EP
1.3